The Transportation Security Administration will no longer require travelers to remove their shoes during security checks at US airports, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Tuesday, ending an unpopular policy.
TSA had been requiring most US air travelers to remove their shoes during screening for nearly two decades. The new policy began nationwide implementation on Tuesday.
"We expect this change will drastically decrease passenger wait times at our TSA checkpoints, leading to a more pleasant and efficient passenger experience," Noem said in a statement.
TSA began making passengers remove their shoes to screen for explosives in August 2006. The policy was implemented nearly five years after the 9/11 attacks and when Richard Reid, who is known as the "shoe bomber," used matches in an attempt to ignite explosive devices hidden in his shoes on a flight from Paris to Miami.
More than 1 billion passengers flew through US airports in fiscal 2023 on over 10 million flights, according to the US Department of Transportation.
"We are very confident that we can continue to provide hospitality to folks and for American travelers and for those visiting our country, while maintaining the same standard of security for passengers and for our homeland," Noem said at a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.
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Noem highlighted advancements in security technology and processes as reasons for the removal of the policy but noted that some individuals may be asked to remove their shoes "if we think there's additional layers of screening that is necessary."
In 2013, TSA launched the PreCheck Trusted Traveler program, whose members are not required to remove their shoes. Children under 12 and adults 75 years or older are exempt from removing their shoes.
Noem did not think the new policy would degrade the PreCheck program.
"I believe PreCheck will still be something that many travelers will want to utilise, because when they have TSA PreCheck, they won't have to take off their belt or their coat or remove things out of their bag such as laptops or compliant liquids," Noem said.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said other aspects of TSA's security process would remain unchanged for most other travelers.
"For example, passengers (must) still clear identity verification, Secure Flight vetting, and other processes," the department said.
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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